The Republican journal., 1887-12-15
Into the Wilds Of Maine.


no. ..
The Calais Air Liue road, while now but lit
tie used, has Il hard and smooth road-bed, but
was huiit as We're many of the roads IN the old
en- times. Our forefathers generally built
their roads over the mountain tops instead of
going round. evidently thinking that the bail of
kettle is longer lying down than standing
erect One of the longest ascents, but not the
>tccpcst, is the Chick Hill. In Amherst. Up
one side and down the other Is nearly three
mics. This bill! could rot, however, have been
we'll avoided, the country is hilly in this
section. To assist the horses the party got out
and walked up the long incline, but before
reaching tie top cursed Old Chick for having
such Il hill on his premises.
Vt East Eddineton there is a handsome vii
lagc. and 4 good water power. A. f. Merrill
n Go. run spool and grist mill here. a stop
was made at their store and oats bought for the
horses. Grain had to be taken into the woods,
but the inan supply was to he obtaineda at Bed
dIngton. the point of departure from c!viliza-
ton Grain was procured at several places
along the route. and the farther east we went
n
fory-liye cents per bushel, at Aurora 60 cents,
and at }eddington - cents. If the price con-
tinGer to increase in geOmetrica progression it
would have bankrupted the company before
Calais could have been reached.
1t was long after dark when Aurora was
reached and the team halted in front of Mr..
Charles Silly's place. He could not put us up,
ItIt St,,I fJ,,t .Irsx. NT,
l.. Rowes, Il few rods farther down the road.
Every person with whom we spoke in regard
10 distance Invariably said so many rods. instead
Of yards a> il the custom in Belfast. The next
house was 50 many rods, or the gun would
shoot 50 many rods. At Mr.. Rowe's we found
a good house, comfortable lodgings and most
genial landlord. Mr.. Rowe is first sclectman
Of The towE, OWLS large tracts of timber lands
and in the winter conducts Il logging business.
II had at his house and was making
preparations to 90 into the woods. The house
il the days Of the Bangor and Calais staging
vas tavern and the barn attached Is fitted up
for large number Of horses. All the beds in
the house Were occupied, but the front room, in
which there was Il large open replace, was
wood is plentiful the farmer a,iheres to the fire.
place. which consumes AS much wood as 4 Rock
land lime kiln. As source Of warmth the fire.
place is lot success, about ninety per cent. of
the heat going up the chimney. but nothing
cheers the hclated traveller like the cracking
hard wood, placed by a generous hand on the
anGirons. Camp blankets were spread on the
floor with comfortables and robes for covering,
and with their feet towards the fire the Belfast
ncct Hunters passed the night. well content
with their first days journey.
Friday morning we awakened to find
southeast gale prevailing and rain descending
III torrents. Alas the prophescs of the Judge
were Verified. 1t was impossible to start out in
such Il storm and the party made themselves
as comfortable possible for the day. The
probable duration of the storm was discussed
and the sailor of the party said that no
southeast rain storm at this season Of the year
lasted over twelve hours. The landsmcn, how
ever. declared that as we had had no fall rains
the storm would be Il long one. Mr. Rowe
brought cut cider and apples and entertained
the company with stories of wood life. In the
AFTERNOON some of the more enthusiastic dress
cd i'll rubber clothes and sailed forth for Il hunt
on the mountain. but it proved frutless. Fri
day might was passed as the night beforc--upon
the loor in front CT the large open fire. Mr..
Rowe agreed to have the hunters up for an
early start Saturday morning. Country people
are rroEcrliaily early ri>ers, but Mr.. Rowe
WAS apparently always up. His clock was rum
iing On ioea! time and fully ninety minutes
fast. 50 thai four o'clock by his time was quite
early At midnight the sleeper> We're awaken
cl by a shouting outside and presently Il man
raised the window and demanded lodging for
himself and companions. 1t was a party of
Bangor hunters bound for the Sabio. They
were full of rum and enthusiasm. and were
very noisy. MIR. Rowe gave them something
to eat. fed their horses and at . o'clock they
started on the road. The storm abated in the
Iii.clt and at ii'o o'clock Saturday morning we
continued our journey. Shortly after leaving
EoWe'> we crossed the middle branch of the
| iii0n river and entered upon one of the
HORSEBACKS,
- familiar in Maine. This particular one is
known locally as the ''whales back" Geolog-
scotch word applying to peculiar gravel
ridges, We're made during the glacial period,
The gravel being deposited by glacial streams.
Not only do we find evidences of the glacial
period III these kames along our route, but also
~ tic large deposits of boulders in the vicinity
Of Lea1 Mountain and Rocky Pond. AT the
latter place huge boulders have been dropped
bv the ice gorge so thickly that it is possible to
walk for miles upon them and not touch the
soil They vary in size from rocks the size of
Il mans head to boulders rs large as dwelling
houses. One of the latter beside the highway
is called Camp Rock, and beneath an overhang-
ins portion many hunter has passed the night
i'll comfort. But to return to the whalesback.
This formation extends for a distance of three
miles. the read winding along the ridge which
in many places is 10 wider than the road-bed
itself and in height it ranges from forty to
fifty feet. 1t is grand sight to ride along the
top OF this kane and look down from either side
and behold the tree tops many feet below. Ii
the wagon should overturn it would roll down
upon either side fifty feet.
Along the road we noticed log houses, built in
primitive style, and at each one rosy checked
children gazed from the windows. What In
ducamcnts a man can have t DIV ell among these
rocks and rear family of children, passes our
comprehension. Fifteen miles from Aurora
we reach the tannery of +. T.. Church, at Bed
dngton. Here are the head waters Of the Cher
ryfcld river. Tanning is the only business
done. and around the tannery has sprung up
little settlement. Forty men are employed and
the scene is an animated one. The hides tan
ned are mostly from South merica. The tan
merry is situated in good hemlock district,
which was the inducement to place 1t 80 far
back in the country. Here we made our last
purchases before striking into the woods. Po-
tatoes were 81 per bushel, and everything else
IN the same proportion. We were told that 1t
was useless to attempt to hunt about the head
waters of the Machias without Il guide, and
none could be procured nearer than Debloi's or
Chcrrytiell. The names of several good guides
We're given, and among them the Haycock bows
and Charles f. Corliss, of Cherryfield. Half an
hor oftar mot a..